Competition Suit Stress Is Real — Here’s How to Make the Process Easy

You’ve started your competition prep, and suddenly things are getting real. At first, it was just training hard and sticking to your meal plan — but now time seems to move twice as fast, and one week feels like one hour. With show day unapologetically approaching, it’s time to start thinking about the details of your stage look.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your stage presentation? That’s right — your competition suit.

With a million things to learn and manage during prep, choosing your competition suit can start to feel like a whole separate science. The moment you begin thinking about it, your head starts spinning, your hands get sweaty, and your cortisol levels start creeping up. If that sounds familiar, we’re here to help. Ordering your competition suit doesn’t have to feel stressful or overwhelming — you just need a little strategy.

Where do you start?

First, find a reputable competition suit company and read feedback from verified customers. Choose a company that fits your needs, budget, and overall aesthetic, while also feeling trustworthy and professional to you.

What should you avoid when choosing a suit maker?

One thing you want to avoid is buying a used suit on some marketplace without being able to try it on first. If it doesn’t fit, big chances are you won’t be able to return or exchange it. Alterations can become stressful, time-consuming, and expensive.

Another thing to consider carefully is ordering from overseas. International shipping often takes longer, and if you end up needing alterations, repairs, or maintenance, the process can quickly become complicated and costly. Working with a local company usually provides much more security and convenience.

If this is your first competition, you may also want to avoid renting a suit. Rental suits typically don’t offer a customized fit and often come with a very short rental window. If the suit doesn’t fit the way you expected, you may not have enough time to replace it before show day — and that can add unnecessary stress during prep.

A custom-made suit is always the best option because it’s created specifically for your measurements and will provide the most flattering fit for your physique.

You chose your suit company — what’s next?

Find out when you should place your order and what the company’s production timeline looks like. Every company operates differently, so don’t assume manufacturing times are the same across the board.

Once you know the recommended ordering window, mark it on your calendar so you don’t cut it too close. Ordering too early may lead to additional alterations as your body continues to lean out closer to show day. Ordering too late may result in rush fees and extra stress.

At OMG Bikinis, we recommend placing your order when you are about 7–8 weeks out from your show. By that point, you’re already well into prep and have a better understanding of how your body responds to training and nutrition. Your measurements are typically much more accurate than they were at the beginning of prep, which gives us a clearer picture of your stage physique.

With our fast production time of 10–14 business days, there’s still enough flexibility to request adjustments if your body changes more or less than expected.

So how do you actually begin the process?

See if the company offers consultations with a suit designer. Having professional guidance can make the process much easier and far less intimidating. Remember that when you’re ordering your competition suit your not just buying a product, you’re getting a service, that’s the big reason why communication matters.

At OMG Bikinis, we offer consultations via FaceTime or Zoom. During the call, we explain the process, help navigate the website, assist with sizing and measurements, and help put your order together. You can also request to see fabrics, rhinestones, connectors, and even design your suit completely from scratch.

It’s an exciting process — and by the end of the consultation, what we usually see is a big smile and a sigh of relief, which we absolutely love.

Don’t underestimate fabric and crystal samples

Another great step before investing in your competition suit is ordering fabric swatches. Seeing a fabric in person helps you understand how the color truly looks outside of a screen and how it complements your skin tone.

You’ll also get a feel for the fabric’s shine, density, stretch, and overall quality — which matters a lot, since the fabric is the foundation of your suit and supports the crystals.

Speaking of crystals, OMG Bikinis also offers rhinestone samples, so you can compare both fabrics and stones together. This is especially valuable if you’re creating a completely custom design.

Ordering swatches and samples isn’t required, but it can be an incredibly helpful — and exciting — part of the process.

One last tip before committing

Before fully committing to a suit maker, consider ordering a posing suit first. Not only will it serve its main purpose for posing practice and check-ins, but it will also give you a great idea of the brand’s fit, cut, and overall craftsmanship.

Since you’ll be choosing a color for your posing suit anyway, you can order it in the shade you’re considering for the stage. This helps you see how the color works with your features and whether you truly love it before investing in your competition suit.

As a bonus, posing suits are also perfect for tanning, helping you avoid unwanted tan lines and messy marks before show day.

All of these steps are essentially the homework you do before ordering your suit — and doing that homework can make the entire experience smoother, more exciting, and far less stressful.

-Written by Anna G, OMG Competition Bikinis Founder

Anna will also be at the Fit Show Forum Workshop on Saturday, June 27 in Nashville, TN if you want to talk with her about options and see suits in person! Register by June 10 to get 15% off with code FSF15 at checkout HERE